Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-19
ROCK ISLAND, TUESDAY. APRIL 10. 1887.

plleu naIlul1lb nun u DuSlutoS cdfu tuiuh
that is his name, as his baggage is marked
with those initials.
The doctor read: Robert Vincent g. Co,
commission merchants, New York
''He had a narrow escape" he observed,
handing the card back to Sybil "a little
more force would have crushed his skull like
q nutshell"
A new interest suddenly awakened for
Sybil.
Il wonder what Louise will say when she
hears that have been splaying nurseg' she
pondered the day following the assumption
of her new duties Poor fellow! I'm sorry
for him"
At Cheyenne, happily for the sick man. the
train was delayed two days by a landslide
During the interval of quiet and rest5the doc
tor succeeded in breaking his fever, and on
the fourth day after the accident Mr. Vincent
opened his eyes in weak astonishment, as
his returning consciousness discerned in his
faithful attendant the handsome young lady
with whom he had tried so assiduously to
fiirt.
He felt too weak from the shock and from
the loss of blood to ask any questions, but
Sybn OWNED his wonder and she explained
W IlIu .Ht vi dttHltIb, WIbtl a
gentle grace as charming as her former re-
serve had been admirable.
Nothing could have been prettier than Syb-
lis devotion to the unfortunate stranger, and
the other passengers seemed to appreciate it,
for they held aloof and were content with
being merely spectators. She waited on him
with persevering devotion. 1t was Sybil's
way to do that. She read to him, or, when
he wished it, talked to him. The presence of
an invalid seemed to infuse home feeling into
the life aboard the train, and when the weeks
journey was protracted by various obstacles
to ten days o one complained.
Before they reached San Francisco Mr..
Vincent was able to sit up 1t would take
some time for the wound to heal, but he had
recovered pretty well from the shock. In
the opinion of some Of the passengers he
was not altogether anxious for immediate
convalesenee, which was hardly to be won
dered at; and really | think Sybil felt a
twinge of regret as she sat the last evening
beside Mr.. Vincent's couch and listened to a
party of gentlemen warbling Swiss air out
on the front platform. 1t was twilight, and
the porter had not yet come in to light the
| lamps.
"Don't you think, Miss Sybil," Mr.. Vim
| cent said in a low voice, "that some acquaint-
ances ripen very much faster than others'
| l feel as though had known you for years,
| yet cannot tell what your last name is. The
doctor calls you just Miss Sybl."
'1 thought YOU knew" she said, simply,
| ignoring his first question, which had sent a
| strange thrill to her heart "My name is
| Travers"
| -"What3" he almost shouted What did
you say37
"Travers,r she repeated, looking at him
surprised.
He sank back on the cushions helplessly,
and turning his face toward her, he muir
INJURED: "kismet!r
| "Do you know" he continued, after pause
which Sybil felt to be pregnant with mean
| ing-"do you know that we have been as
badly mixed up as to our identities as the peo-
pie in play. had no idea you were Miss
Travers. Your Uncle jerry
"Do you know my Uncle Jerry?' she cried,
in surprise.
u ought to" he replied, with an odd smile.
Il am-Sybil, do you ever forgive people
who practice little deceits upon you?'
| The familiar manner of this address did not
offend her, strange to say.
"That depends, she said softly.
"What would you say if l were to tell you
| that my name wasn't Vincent at allFn
He had contrived to get hold of her hand
and he felt it fiutter slightly, but she made nc
response
u do not know what led you to believe that
| my name was Vincent. At first / could not
correct the impression, and, when / was able
| didn't care to, for l was so pleased with oul
relation that | feared to do anything that
| might jar upon it. 1t is all the worse for me
now, for | fear this deceit may have preju
diced you. am your uncle's friend, Sybil
am Royal Valleau!"
Il was her turn to start in astonishment
She snatched her hand away from him, but
he secured it again
i "Dont!n he pleaded in a low tone. For
give mel You have made me love you ant
you must not be so cruel You viii at leas
forget that have deceived you at all!n
] Sybil gave no spoken reply, but her hant
was still clasped in his, and before the portel
Lit the lamps she suffered him to carry it {.
his lips
This story was detailed in letter to Mis-
Louise Houghton the following week with tn
appended comments:
And just think of it, Louise! have actual
, ly engaged myself to him. / meant to hat
him so, tool Uncle Jerry is delighted, o
course. For myself, l can only say that an
perfectly happy, and leave the rest to you
imagination. Wasn't it funny, thought h
left New York three weeks before he had in
tended to, because he didn't want to be both
cred with looking after me; and l ran ava,
from him in the most unceremonious style
: Yet we both got on the same train after all
1t is quite like romance, isn't it, deara Blu
| must close, as Roy is begging me to hurr,
and finish. will write you more again
Your loving friend, SYBIL.
Chicago Tribune.